P R 

4571 

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Shelf .,S3 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE 



GRAND 

DICKENS COSMORAMA 




CAPTAIN CUTTLE. 



15V 

GEORGE B. BARTLETT. 

BOSTON : 
LEE & SHEPARD, PuiiLiSHERS. 

NEW YORK : 
CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM. 



Spencer's Universal Stage. 

A dolUetion of COMEDIES, DRAMAS, and FARCES, adapted to either Public or PriveU* 
ji vw.«. / Performance. Containing a full description of all the 

necessary Stage Business. 
PRICE, 15 CENTS EACH, n^ No Plays Exchanged. 



1. IiOST IN LONDON. A Drama in 3 Acts. 

6 male, 4 female charaoters. 
a. NICHOLAS FLAM. A Comedy in 2 Acta. 

By J. B. Buckstone. 5 male, 3 female char. 
8 THE ■WELSH GIP.L. A Comedy in 1 Act. 

By Mrs. Planche. 3 male, 2 female char. 
4. JOHN ■WOPPS. A Farce in 1 Act. By 

W. E. Suter. 4 male, 2 female char. 
B. THE TtrKKISH BATH. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By Montague Williams and F. C. Bumand. 

6 mole, 1 female char. 
e THH TWO PTJDDIPOOTS. AFarceinl 

Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 male, 3 female char. 
L OLD HONESTY. A Comic Drama in 2 

Acts. By J. M. Morton. 6 male- 2 female char. 

d. TWO GENTLEMEN IN A FIX, A 

Farce in 1 Act. By W. E. Suter. 2 male char. 

e. SMASHINGTON GOIT. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By T. J. Williams. 5 male, 3 female char. 
10. TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE. A 

Farce in 1 Act. By Lenox Home. 4 male, 

1 female char. 
U. JOHN DOBBS. 'A Farce in 1 Act. ByJ.M. 

Morton, 5 male, 2 female char. 
12. THE DAUGHTER of the REGIMENT. 

A Drama in 2 Acts. By Edward Fitzball. 

6 male, 2 female char. 
*J. AUNT CHARLOTTE'S MAID. AFarceinl 

Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 male, 3 female char. 
14 BROTHER BILL AND ME. A Farce in 

1 Act. By W. E. Suter. 4 male, 3 female char. 
IB DONE ON BOTH SIDES. A Farce in 1 

Act By J. M. Morton. 3 male, 2 female char. 
ifl. DUNDUCKETTT'S PICNIC. A'Farceinl 

Act. By T. J. Williams. G male, 3 female char. 

17. I'VE WRITTEN TO BROWNE. A Farce 

_ in 1 Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 male, 3 female 

char. 
ifl MT PRECIOUS BETSY. A Farce in 1 

Act. By J. M. Morton. 4 male, 4 female char. 
flO MY TURN NEXT. A Farce in 1 Act. By 

T. J. Williams. 4 male, 3 female char. 
a2 THE PHANTOM BREAKFAST. A Farce 

in 1 Act. By Chas. Selby. y male, 2 female char. 
23 DANDELION'S DODGES. A Farce in 1 

Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 male, 2 female char. 
84 A SLICE OF LUCE. A Farce in 1 Act. By 

J. M. Morton. 4 male, 2 female char. 

26. ALWAYS INTENDED. A Comedy in 1 

Act By Horace Wigan. 3 male, 3 female char. 
ae A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP. A Comedy 
in 2 Acts. By Charles Matthews. 6 male, 4 
female char. -~ 

27. ANOTHER GLASS. A Drama in 1 Act. By 

Thomas Morton. C male, 3 female char. 

28. BOWLED OUT. A Farce in 1 A.ot. ByH. 

T. Craven. 4 male, 3 female char. 
20 COUSIN TOM. A Commedietta in 1 Act. By 

Geo. Roberts. 3 male, 2 female char. 
80. SARAH'S YOUNG MAN. A Farce in 1 

A.ct By W. E. Suter. 3 male, 3 female char. 
31. HIT HIM, HE HAS NO FRIEITDS. A 

Farce in 1 Act. By E. Yates and N. H. Har- 
rington- 7 male, 3 female char. 
32 THE CHRISTENING. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By J. B. Buckstone. 5 male 6 female char. 
33. A RACE FOR A WIDOW. A Farce in I 

Act. ByT. J. Williams. 6 male, 4 female char. 

34 YOUR LIFE'S IN DANGER. A Farce in 
' lAct. By J. M.Morton. 3 male, 3 female char. 

35 TRUE UNTO DEATH. A Drama in 2 Acts. 
\ Bv J. Sheridan Knowles. 6 male, 2 female char. 



36. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. An Interlude 

in 1 Act. By W. H. Murray. 10 male, 1 female 
char. 

37. LOOK AFTER BROWN. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By George A. Stuart, M. D. 6 male, 1 female 
char. „ 

38. MONSEIGNEUR. A Drama in 3 Acts. By 

Thomas Archer. IS male, 3 female char. 

39. A VERY PLEASANT EVENING. A 

Farce ml Act. By W. E. Suter. 3 male char. 

40. BROTHER BEN. A Farce in 1 Act. By .. 

M. Morton. 3 male, 3 female char. 

41. ONLY A CLOD. A Comic Drama in 1 LA. 

By J. P. Simpson. 4 male, 1 female char. 

42. GASPARDO THE GONDOLIER. A 

Drama in 3 Acts. By George Almar. 10 male, 
2 female char. 

43. SUNSHINE THROUGH THE CLOUDS. 

A Drama in 1 Act. By Slingsby Lawrence. 3 
male, 3 female char. 

44. DON'T JUDGE BY APPEARANCES. A 

Farce in 1 Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 mule, 2 
female char. 

45. NURSE Y CHICKWEED. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By T. J. Williams. 4 male, 2 female char. 

46. MARY MOO ; or, W^hich shall I MarryP 

A Faice in 1 Act. By W. £. Suler. 2 mule, 1 
female char. 

47. EAST LYNNE. A Drama in 5 Acts. 8 male, 

7 female char. 

48. THE HIDDEN HAND. A Drama in 5 Acta. 

By Robert Jones. 16 male, 7 female char. 

49. SILVERSTONE'S WAGER. A Commedi- 

etta in 1 Ar>.t, By R. K. Andrews. 4 male, 3 Ic- 
"^ male char. 
eO. DORA. A Pastoral Drama in 3 Acts. By 'Jhas. 

Reade. 5 male, 2 female char. 

65. TH:!i: WIPE'S SECRET. A Play in 5 Acts. 

By Geo. W. Lovell. 10 male, 2 female char. 

56. THE BABES IN THE WOOD. A Com- 

edy in 3 Acts. By Tom Taylor. 10 muic. 3 fe- 
male char. 

57. PUTKINS -, Heir t J Castles in the Air. 

A Comic Drama in \ Act. By W. R. Emerson. 
2 male, 2 fe.i.ale char. 

68. AN UGI.Y CUSTOMER. A Farce in 1 Act 

By Thjm J3 J. Williams. 3 male, 2 teniale char. 

69. BLUE AND CHERRY. A Comedy in 1 Act 

3 male, 2 female char. ~ 

60. A DOUBTFUL VICTORY. A Comedy in 

1 Act. 3 male, 2 female char. 

61. THE SCARLET LETTER. A Drama in 3 

Acts. 8 male, 7 female char. 

62. WHICH W^ILL HAVE HIM? A Vaude- 

ville. 1 male, 2 female char. 

63. MADAM IS ABED. A Vaudeville in 1 Act 

2 male, 2 female char. 

64. THE ANONYMOUS KISS. A Vaudeville. 

2 male, 2 female char. 

66. THE CLEFT STICK. A Comedy in 3 Acta. 

6 male, 3 female char. 

66. A SOLDIER, A SAILOR, A TINKER, 

AND A TAILOR. A Farce in 1 AcJ. 4 male, 
2 female char. 

67. GIVE A DOG A BAD NAME. A Farce. 

2 male, 2 female char. 

68. DAMON AND PYTHIAS. A Farce. « 

male, 4 female char. 

69. A HUSBAND TO ORDER. A Serio-comic 

Drama in 2 Acts. 5 male, 3 female char. 

70 PAYABLE ON DEMAND. A Domestic 

Drama in 2 Acts. 7 male, 1 female char. 



Descriptive Catalogue mailed free on application to 

«fo. Al. Baker Ik, Oo., 47 Franklin St.. Boston. 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA 



COMPRISING SKVEKAL 



UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENTS CAPABLE OF 

BEING USED SEPARATELY OR IN 

COMBINATION, FOR SCHOOL, 

HOME, AND HALL 



By GEORGE B;^ARTLETT 



OF CONCORD, MASS. 







BOSTON ^^ 

LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS 

NEW YORK 

CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM, 578 BROADWAY 

1885 



^ 



"b 



Copyright, 
1884, 
iY LEE AND SHEPARD. 



^ U rights reserved. 



Stereotyped and Printed by 

ALFRED MUDGB AND SON, BOSTON. 



INDEX. 



Officers in Costume. 

FAGB 

Presidext, Mr. Pickwick 5 

Business Manager, Mr. Weller .... 5 

Treasurer, Mr. Jingle 5 

Secretary, Mrs. Jellyby 5 

Mr. Crummells and his Company ... 5 

Little Nell 7 

Plan of the Hall ....... 8 

The Dolls' Dressmaker 10 

Boffin's Bower and Wegg's Stall ... 10 

The Blue Dragon Inn 11 

The Holly Tree Inn 12 

Mrs. Lirriper's Boarding-House .... 14 

Old Curiosity Shop 14 

Dr. Marigold's Wagon 15 

Caleb Plummer's Toy Shop 16 

Mrs. Leo Hunter's Tent 16 

The Panorama 17 

The Spirit of Christmas 17 

The Fat Boy's Pie-Stand 17 

The Living Punch and Judy 19 

The Mysterious Mrs. Harris .... 22 



IV INDEX. 

Crummells's Theatre Royal .... 22 

Introducing the following. 

Stiggins and Mrs. Weller 25 

Shaking the Cloth , 26 

The Pecksniffs 27 



Mantalini 



27 



Mr. Mantalini in a New Character. . . 28 

The Capture of Bunsby 29 

Mrs. Pipchin and Paul 29 

Susan Nipper and Toots 30 

Capt. Cuttle and Florence 30 

The Smallweeds 30 

Smike at Rehearsal 31 

Bella Wilfer and her Father . , . . 31 

Betty Higden 31 

Steerforth and Miss Mowcher .... 32 

Barkis and Pegotty . . . . . . 32 

Mr. and Mrs. Micawber 32 

Aunt Betsy discovers her Nephew ... 33 

Uriah Heep and Agnes 33 

Uriah Heep Exposed 33 

The Fezziwigs 34 

ScRouGE at his Nephew's Party .... 34 

Tom and Ruth Pinch 34 

John and Dot 35 

Mr. Pickwick in Trouble 35 

Tiny Tim 36 

Dolly Varden and her Lover .... 37 

Barnaby Rudge and his Raven • ... 37 

Sidney Carton 37 

Waiting their Doom 37 

Oliver Twist and Fagin 38 

Mrs. Bumble asserts her Supremacy . . 38 

The Dickens Gallery 39 

Mrs. Leo Hunter's Garden Party ... 40 



INTRODUCTION. 



This novel method of raising funds for charita- 
ble purposes combines a great variety of enter- 
tainments, any of which can be used by itself for 
a simple performance, and a selection can be made 
for a more elaborate one when it may not be 
found convenient to use all at one time. 

Great interest can be awakened in any city or 
large town by gradual preparation, a notice of the 
progress made at the meetings for consultation 
and rehearsal being printed occasionally in news- 
papers. A general invitation may be thus ex- 
tended to all persons interested, inviting them to 
assemble in some large hall to choose officers and 
arrange preliminaries. These officers are ex- 
pected to appear in costume during the exhibition, 
and are chosen for their ability to assume promi- 
nent characters from the works of Dickens as well 
as for their executive powers. Mr. Pickwick is the 
president, Mr. Samuel Weller, business manager, 
Mr. Alfred Jingle, treasurer, and Mrs. Leo Hunter 
and Mrs. Jellyby act as corresponding and recording 
secretaries. With them are associated the follow- 
ing, who have charge of all dramatic performances, 
viz., Codlin and Short and Mr. and Mrs. Vincent 
Crummells. Mr. Crummells acts as the manager of 
the main stage, and, with the help of the other mem- 
bers of the committee, selects the scenes, casts the 



6 INTRODUCTION. 

parts, and makes out the programmes. His judg- 
ment is always final in case of any difference of 
opinion, and he takes all responsibility in case of 
an emergency. Mrs. Crummellshas charge of the 
ladies who take part, and she arranges their 
drapery, and otherwise assists them in regard to 
their dress for the tableaux and other scenes. 
Codlin takes care of the properties and furniture, 
and sees that they are in proper place for each 
scene, and Short attends to the scenery, both acting 
under the manager's direction in all cases. When 
the Punch-and-Judy Show is in operation at the 
same time with the stage, Codlin and Short man- 
age the former, and leave the whole duty to Mr. 
Crumme Is of filling their places on his stage. 
The tickets should be on sale a week before the 
performance, and should be of a different color 
for each night, to avoid confusion. If it is decided 
to hold some of the performances in separate 
rooms, at an extra price, this ticket may be fur- 
nished with coupons for the side-shows, and a 
slight deduction be made from the total to those 
who wish to secure admission to all, as when only 
a general admission is bought the coupons are all 
removed before its delivery to the buyer. The 
best place is a large hall with a gallery on three 
sides and a high platform at one end ; but any 
opera house or large hall will serve, one having 
several anterooms preferred. An orchestra will 
add much, and it may occupy the usual place in 
front of the stage, or be placed in the gallery, or 
in any part of the hall where the leader can easily 
receive directions from the president, or any mem- 
ber of the committee on performances. The 
floor will be always under command of Mr. Pick- 
wick, who may, if he pleases, be aided by his faith- 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

ful Samuel and the members of his famous cUib, 
comprising Mr. Tracy Tupman, Mr. Winkle, and 
Mr. Snodgrass. These gentlemen act as aids, to 
carry messages, and as marshals, to receive and 
entertain strangers, and to assign to each depart- 
ment its proper place on the hall floor or ante- 
rooms. The treasurer must attend to the sales at 
all booths and ticket offices, and receive all money 
and pay all bills. He may appoint a cashier at 
each, or may employ cash boys to bring him the 
proceeds of all sales when made ; but the former 
method is less likely to create confusion when the 
hall is crowded. Little Nell is an important per- 
sonage, as she acts under Mrs. Jarley's direction in 
inviting purchasers to patronize the various booths 
and shows. She may be accompanied for a part of 
the time by her aged grandfather, whom she leads 
from place to place just before the performar.c ; is 
about to begin in each, thus calling attention to 
the fact among the spectators. The position of 
the various shows must of course dqDcnd much 
upon the size and shape of the hall, and must be 
left in a great measure to the taste and judgment 
of the president, for whose guidance a suitable 
plan is presented, which may be of use. As 
before mentioned, the stage of the theatre will be 
determined by the position of the platform ; but if 
there is none, it may be built at the end opposite 
the main entrance, at the left of which may be 
Miss Jenny Wren's Dolls' Dressmaking Establish- 
ment, next to which Caleb Plummer may have his 
Toy Shop. Mrs. Lirriper may occupy the next 
space ; opposite to which Mrs. Lupin's Blue 
Dragon Inn may come. Boffin's Bower, with its 
contrasting apartments, occupies the right corner 
of the hall, and the Holly Tree Inn the next space 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

on the right, which also has two compartments. 
Sarah Gamp's room is next in line on the right, 
combined with which is the abode of Mrs. Harris. 
On the left side of the hall, between the Toy Shop 
and Mrs. Lirriper's, is the Spirit of Christmas and 
the wonderful Curiosity Shop, where the old grand- 



%. 



\ 



Toy Shop. Wegg. 

Spirit of Christmas. ^ 

Curiosity Shop. <^ 

\ 

Sarah Gamp. 

d 
o 

Fat Boy. Dr. Marigold. ^ 



P 
^ 



Panorama. Mrs. Hunter's Flower Show. Punch and Judy. 

father shows his curious collections ; and opposite, 
at the right of the Blue Dragon, is Codlin and 
Short's Punch-and-Judy Show ; while Mrs. Jarley's 
panorama of all nations stands at the left of the 
Inn of Mrs. Lirriper. Dr. Marigold's Cheap Jack 
Wagon may stand in the centre when no stage 
performance is going on, or may be moved from 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

place to place as business may demand. Mr. 
Turveydrop may preside over the dancing in 
anotiicr hall, when desired, for which a separate 
fee can be charged ; and the Fat Boy's pie-stand 
is also a movable feast. 

Each of the above mentioned will be described 
in detail, so that they may be used collectively or 
alone for hall, home, or school entertainments, 
leaving the Crummells stage until the last. 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 



Miss Wren's Dolls' Dressmaking Estab- 
lishment 

Is a very plain interior, tha front fitted with a 
pair of plain muslin curtains, to be looped at each 
side or dropped to conceal the scene. Miss Jenny 
sits at a small table in the centre of the room in a 
high-backed arm-chair ; by her side a crutch leans 
against the chair. Dolls dressed in every style 
and dozens of others partly completed lie upon the 
table, bureau, and chairs. She looks very ear- 
nestly at her work, and seems also to study the 
dress of some of her lady visitors whose attire has 
attracted her attention. She wears a very plain 
dress, and has a quantity of golden hair over her 
shoulders. She is attended by five or six blond 
children, who sell the dolls from the booth, and 
also from baskets which they carry about the 
room. The dolls should vary in price from the 
cheapest to quite costly ones, some of which can 
stand on high shelves or be hung upon the walls 
in picturesque attitudes, in order to attract the 
little girls who find this department a very inter- 
esting one. 

Boffin's Bower and Wegg's Stall. 

The bower is an interior scene, one half of which 
has a carpeted floor and showy furniture. Mrs. 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. II 

Boffin, a stout, short lady dressed in black velvet, 
with an enormous bonnet adorned with feathers 
on her head, sits on a sofa, while Mr. Boffin occu- 
pies a bench. He is dressed in plain, rough clothes, 
and has a hat on his head, and a cane in his hand ; 
midway between them, at intervals of an hour, 
Silas Wegg is seated, who gives poetical readings 
to such as wish to hear, and sings some local bal- 
lads. When not thus employed, he sits at his 
stall outside on a high stool, under a large um- 
brella. By his side is a rough l^oard standing on 
trestles. Behind him is a clothes-horse, on which 
songs, newspapers, and photographs are displayed 
for sale ; and the board is covered with nuts, fruit, 
and other delicacies. Here are also for sale the 
programmes of the various entertainments, the 
works of Dickens, and any books which will be 
likely to command a ready market. Mr. Wegg 
has a wooden leg, his real one being strapped up 
and concealed by a full pantaloons leg. He wears 
a rough and threadbare suit of gray, or any dark 
color. 

The Blue Dragon Inn 

Should have a large space devoted to it, as an 
exterior with a door in the centre will be found 
useful. This may be made of scenery painted in 
imitation of an old English inn, with a large old- 
fashioned door, above which swings a sign bearing 
the device of a blue dragon and the name of 
Mrs. Lupin. In the interior is a huge fireplace, 
with its crane, and kettles hanging on hooks. Long 
tables run across this room, at which the guests 
sit and partake of suppers and dinners, for which 
a charge of fifty cents each is made. Roasts of 
beef and mutton, with plum-pudding and mince-pie, 



12 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

form the chief attractions of the vienn, the more 
dainty dishes being for sale in other places. The 
food must be well cooked and of the best quality 
and very neatly served. The waitresses are all 
young ladies in Dolly Varden dress, with white 
caps and aprons, all being under the direction of 
Dolly Varden herself, who acts as head waitress, 
and sees that each guest has proper attention. As 
much variety as possible should be shown in the 
choice of colors of these dresses of the young 
ladies, and the talsle service should be of as old- 
fashioned crockery as can conveniently be found. 
The room can be furnished to advantage with any 
old-fashioned furniture, such as high-backed chairs, 
spinning-wheels, etc.; and an old-fashioned clock 
may stand in one corner. Mrs. Lupin sits by the 
door inside, to make the change for the guests as 
they enter, and to give to each a hearty welcome. 
She also decides each day upon the bill of fare, 
which may be changed as often as thought desira- 
ble; the dinner, which is served from six to eight, 
being of a more substantial character than the 
supper, from nine to the close of the entertainment. 
Mrs. Lupin should wear a dark quilted skirt, with 
a chintz overdress, white kerchief and apron, and 
have a pair of spectacles pushed up over her fore- 
head ; her hair must be powdered, unless already 
gray, and worn in puffs each side of her face, with 
a very high cap with a ruffle in front and a black 
bow on the top. 

The Holly Tree Inn 

Should be more ornate in its fitting and decoration. 
The outside may be of plain oak covered with vines, 
the sign over the door bearing the name, with a 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 13 

wreath of holly. The exterior above described 
may be painted on sceneiy, if desired, although for 
less elaborate affairs cambric curtains will do very 
well. The interior may be prettily furnished with 
small tables, at which parties of from four or six 
persons can be comfortably seated. The walls 
should be ornamented with pictures, mirrors, and 
vases and baskets of flowers. Here ice-cream, 
cake, and coffee, and all refreshments of a light 
nature, suitable to the season, can be furnished, 
and at a long table at one side of the room the 
little runaway couple in full bridal costume may sell 
candy and other sweet things. Boots stands at 
the outside door ready to invite all the people to 
enter and enjoy themselves. He wears short cor- 
duroy breeches, top-boots, and a long waistcoat 
with sleeves. The waiters at the various tables 
may be boys dressed as nearly as convenient in 
imitation of Boots, and girls dressed in white mus- 
lin trimmed with flowers, and white lace veils 
thrown back over the head. In the centre of the 
table, which is presided over by the little bridal 
couple, a large bride-cake is for sale by the slice. 
Inside of this cake is a ring, a ten-cent piece, and 
a glass button, by which the buyers can try their 
fortune. The first predicts a happy life to the 
married and a speedy wedding to the single ; the 
money, increase of wealth ; while the button signi- 
fies that the finder will remain single, or, if already 
married, it compels him to pay for a slice of cake for 
each person at the table at the time of his pur- 
chase. In large cakes several such prizes are min- 
gled, as they never fail to amuse the buyers. Bas- 
kets of small candies are also exposed to view, 
which are given to the person who guesses the 
number of pieces which is contained in them 



14 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

Bouquets and baskets of flowers may also be for 
sale outside, or from bowers at the door, as most 
convenient for the space. These bowers are at- 
tended by several flower-girls in white dresses, 
who also go around the hall with large baskets on 
their heads, from which they sell bouquets to any 
who may wish to buy. 

Mrs. Lirriper's famous Boarding-House 

Is of a plain exterior, and has a simple sign bearing 
the name of that distinguished lady ; but inside 
good-cheer and comfort dwell. The good lady and 
her attendant children are all costumed in ancient 
style, with bright dresses tucked up over quilted 
skirts, their hair powdered and worn high over 
cushions. The major and his protege assist at 
making change and in attending to the guests, who 
can procure oysters, pies, and hot refreshments of 
every sort. Regular meals may be served in 
courses at a fixed price, or separate dishes sold at a 
fair rate. These dainties are displayed on a high 
sideboard, and the guests can choose for them- 
selves. Mrs. Lirriper should be a great talker ; and 
she can gather hints for her remarks and pronun- 
ciation by a careful study of the story from which 
she takes her name. The major and his protegd 
are dressed in square-cut suits of any dark color, 
the former with powdered hair. The interior of 
the room should be furnished, as far as possible, 
with unique furniture, with old pictures on the 
walls. 

The Old Curiosity Shop 

Is under the care of the grandfather, an aged man 
in a dark, square-cut suit, who sits in a high-backed 
chair near the door to receive the tickets, and to 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 1 5 

add from time to time a few words as little Nell 
points out the objects of interest to the guests. 
These articles may be borrowed from private and 
public collections, and may consist of pictures, 
books, and furniture of great antiquity, as well as of 
every species of curiosity, and relics from any 
clime and country. When the real are not to be 
had, burlesque and fanciful articles may be intro- 
duced, and the whole of the exhibition be made of 
a humorous character. Little Nell wears a striped 
skirt and flowered overskirt, and has a bright 
handkerchief tied over her head, and another about 
her neck. From time to time she leads her grand- 
father around the hall and invites the people to 
call and examine the curiosities on her return. 
The old man leans upon her shoulder with his 
left hand, and upon a cane with his right. She 
also assists at intervals Mrs. Jarley and Codlin and 
Short when required. Little Nell also has the 
duty of arranging and dusting the articles in the 
collection, as well as of explaining their merits to 
the audience. Mementos may also be sold from 
the curiosity shop, such as photographs of noted 
places and persons, and of the haunts which Dick- 
ens has described. Various kinds of fancy goods 
can also be used here, which will be appropriate, 
especially specimens of fancy work, and embroid- 
ery in imitation of the antique. 

Dr. Marigold's Cheap Jack Wagon 

May be made by placing common wooden boxes 
on any wagon, and painting them in bright colors, 
and marking on the sides the name of the owner, 
and brief notices of some of his wares. On the 
seat his little deaf-and-dumb girl is seated, who, by 



i6 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 



pantomimic gestures, communicates with him and 
the audience of buyers, attracted by the wit and 
repartees of Dr. Marigold, who from the top of the 
wagon offers at auction a great variety of toys and 
other small articles of any eccentric kind. The 
stores which supply the five-cent counters will 
furnish hundreds of articles which will find a ready 
sale at a good profit. The auctioneer will be much 
aided in this direction by reading the story, from 
which he cannot fail to gather inspiration and use- 
ful hints. He may wear corduroy knee-breeches, 
a long striped waistcoat with sleeves, and a white 
hat with a black band three inches wide around it. 
He must have a fluent tongue and a ready wit and 
great confidence, as his part well played is one of 
the chief attractions of the carnival. The wagon 
can be moved from place to place in the hall, and 
when no stage performance is going on, it can 
occupy the centre of the floor. 

Caleb Plummer's Toy Shop 

Is a small, plain room, filled with toys of every de- 
scription. The proprietor sits at his counter and 
offers his tempting wares, dressed in a rough frock 
made of bagging or of an old coffee bag ; he has 
also knee-breeches of dark cloth, and a white wig. 

Mrs. Leo Hunter, 

In a showy silk dress, has a canopy or open tent 
at the end of the hall opposite the stage ; every 
kind of plants and flowers in pots is for sale, as 
well as cut flowers and bouquets : her assistants are 
also richly dressed, and they not only sell flowers 
themselves, but keep their branch establishment by 
the inn supplied with flowers from their stock. 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA/ 1/ 



The Panorama 

Is a neat stage, nine feet square, with a raised plat- 
form at the rear end, and a curtain of green cloth 
at the front. The end is covered with plain black 
cambric, close to which a platform four feet long 
and two feet wide runs on a wooden track, so that 
figures can be slowly drawn across the rear of the 
stage upon it ; and to conceal the operator the sides 
of the stage must also be covered with black cam- 
bric. In front of the curtain a frame of yellow 
cambric is erected, nine feet square, and be- 
hind this a piece of black tarlatan muslin is tightly 
drawn so as to fill the space left in the open square. 
A row of gas-lights is placed across the upper part 
of the frame, concealed by it. The whole is com- 
pleted on each side of the structure by spaces five 
feet in width, curtained in side and front for dress- 
ing-rooms, and thus a novel stage is formed for the 
presentation of any of the scenes and tableaux 
which will be described at length under the head 
of the Theatre Royal, with which it is in combina- 
tion. 

The Fat Boy's Pie-Stand 

Is a large tray with legs which can stand or be car- 
ried. It is loaded with pies of many kinds, and 
borne by a very fat boy in a dark, square-cut suit. 

The Spirit of ChristmasI 

This department may be one of the most attrac- 
tive, as it is composed of green boughs and deco- 
rated with holly and bright flowers and berries of 
every sort. Outside, a party of Christmas waits in 
2 



1 8 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

peasant costume, well muffled and wrapped up, sinsj- 
ing carols by the side of a huge Christmas tree with 
its candles and usual decorations. Inside, the 
spirit of Merry Christmas sits, dressed in a long 
green robe and crown, somewhat like the descrip- 
tion in the " Christmas Carol." He is surrounded 
by Christmas dainties, and on long tables every va- 
riety of good-cheer and home-made luxuries of all 
kinds are offered for sale by the attendants, Bob 
Crachitt and his numerous family, including Tiny 
Tim. Receipts for making all these good things 
find a ready sale, and can easily be collected and 
written by the housekeepers, who vie with each 
other in their manufacture. Christmas pies and 
puddings, cakes and candy, fruit, everything in- 
tended to furnish or decorate a dinner, can here 
be displayed in tempting array, and another table 
can be devoted to Christmas gifts of every de- 
scription, or to articles suitable to the occasion 
which the enterprise is intended to aid. If about 
the season of the holidays, Christmas trees, wreaths, 
and winter bouquets will serve the double purpose 
of ornamenting the booth and of furnishing stock 
in trade ; and when the affair is carried on on a very 
large scale, a stall maybe erected at one end for the 
sale of fowls and poultry, cooked and uncooked, as 
well as of eggs and vegetables. One advantage of 
the above sale is that farmers are often happy to 
contribute the proceeds of their farms when they 
would find it less convenient to give money to the 
cause. This stall should be attended by a stout, 
rosy-faced man dressed in a long white frock, and, 
by a little taste in arrangement, can be made a 
very temptiiig place, which will be sure to find cus- 
tomers ; for heads of families will prefer to invest 
in a'nice turkey or fat goose, with its surroundings, 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. I9 

than to buy worthless fancy work or useless orna- 
ments. The jellies and sweetmeats will also prove 
as attractive to the lady of the house, who can 
save trouble and do good at the same time. 



Codlin and Short's Living Punch-and-Judy 
Show 

Is an enlarged copy of the common Punch and 
Judy, arranged in such a manner that the parts 
can be taken by children dressed in imitation of 
the well-known characters, Punch, Judy, Police- 
man, Hangman, Scaramouch, etc., the baby being- 
personated by a wax doll. The stage should be 
six feet in length by four in width, and seven feet 
in height, with a flight of steps at the back as 
wide as the stage, covered with cloth, well stuffed 
with hay, so that the children can ascend them 
quickly, or roll down when needful. A plain 
proscenium is made of cambric or house paper 
from the floor of the hall, which is supported by 
two boards fourteen feet in length and one in 
width, the ends of which stand on the hall floor, 
one each side of the stage, to which they are 
nailed. At a distance of six feet from the stage a 
cross-piece is firmly nailed, from which a curtain 
of green cambric extends to the stage floor. This 
curtain is fitted with a common roller, to roll up 
and down by means of a string at the right side, 
and. the space from the top of the curtain to the 
upper edge of the boards is covered with red cam- 
bric, on which the names of Codlin and Short 
appear. The front of the stage below the curtain 
is covered with red cambric also, on which may 
be painted the words Punch-and-Judy Show. At 



20 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

the right side of the stage, on the floor, a short 
man beats a drum from time to time, and sells 
tickets to the entertainment, or passes around his 
hat for contributions. The actors hide behind a 
curtain which is stretched behind the whole frame- 
work at a distance of three feet from the wall. 
They must have long chins and noses, which can 
be bought at any toy shop, and be costumed as 
nearly as possible to the well-known pictures. 
They must carry on their conversation in a cracked 
voice, and imitate the grotesque stiffness of the 
real figures. Almost any scene may be acted 
from the memory or imagination of the actors ; for 
example, Mr. Punch may appear and introduce 
himself to the audience, and then call for Judy, 
whom he embraces, and asks her to go for the 
baby, which he tosses in his arms, and after a 
while tosses up into the air so that it does not 
come down, as it falls into a net fixed above the 
curtain for the purpose of catching it, Judy runs 
about, looks up eagerly, tells Punch to go up after 
it. and' both jump up and down, violently waving 
their arms in the air. Judy accuses Punch, and 
strikes him ; he cries, and runs out for a long, 
stuffed stick, with which he beats Judy, a loud 
noise being made outside at the same time by 
striking a board. Judy begs for mercy, and Police- 
man comes in and seizes Punch, who attacks him, 
and they have a violent quarrel with clubs. Police- 
man falls, Punch bends over him, and he lifts one 
leg very stiffly, and as Punch pushes it down the 
other comes up. Then the right and left arms and 
head each rise up very stiffly when the one is 
pushed down; finally, the feet rise together as 
Punch bends down to adjust the head, and hit him 
so that he rolls down the back steps out of sight. 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 21 

Judy then bends over the Policeman, and lifts him 
up by the shoulders, the whole body being stiff. 
She sets the Policeman up against the wall, and 
calls Punch, who slowly appears, as if frightened, 
and rises up gradually by slowly ascending the 
stairs. As he goes by him, the Policeman falls 
stiffly upon him, and frightens him very much. 
The Hangman then appears, and erects a tall gal- 
lows ; when ready, he holds the noose, and at- 
tempts to slip it over the head of Punch, who has 
been slowly dragged under the gallows. Punch 
rises, slips the noose over the head of the Hang- 
man, and Judy and he pull on it with all their 
might, when Scaramouch drops on the stage, and 
frightens them ; all seem frightened. The Police- 
man then gets up, comes to Punch, and offers to 
shake hands. Punch consents, and introduces 
Judy and the Hangman, All then shake hands 
with Scaramouch, and make believe that his hand 
burned theirs when he touched them. Punch's hand 
shows the red marks of all the fingers of Scara- 
mouch, upon which some red powder has been 
rubbed. Scaramouch then disappears suddenly, and 
at last the baby drops down from above, to the 
delight of Judy, who hugs it warmly. Punch tries 
again to take it, but Judy refuses. Judy then 
holds up the baby in the centre, and all bow stiffly 
as the curtain falls. The above is intended only 
to give an idea of the performances, which may be 
varied at will, and should occupy but a short time. 
The same performances may be very often re- 
peated, as they can be seen but by a very few at 
one time. 



22 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 



The Mysterious Mrs. Harris. 

Sarah Gamp, whose dress is fully descril^ecl in 
the novel " Martin Chuzzlevvit," sits in her room 
at a table, with her teapot before her on a round 
table, from which she furnishes all comers with a 
cup of tea and a salad, if desired, with biscuits, 
pickles, and other relishes. She also keeps for 
sale a choice assortment of home-made pickles, 
jellies, preserves, etc., in addition to which visitors 
can ha\e their fortunes told. They can consult 
the oracle by whispering any questions into a tele- 
phone mouth-piece or common tunnel, which is 
fastened into the wall, and replies more or less 
appropriate are soon returned in the same manner 
by Mrs. Harris, who is, of course, never seen. 
She can also have a variety of quotations from the 
poets, or any ambiguous replies to any questions, 
written on cards, one of which she pushes through 
a small aperture of the curtain, which conceals her 
when called for. Only one person at a time can 
consult Mrs. Harris, as, of course, her answers are 
strictly confidential, and a small fee is charged by 
Mrs. Gamp for the privilege. 



Crummells's Theatre Royal, 

As above mentioned, occupies the main or real 
stage when the entertainment is given in an 
opera house. When well provided with lights and 
scenery this will be sufficient for all purposes, 
with the exception of painting one set of wings 
and fiats with lamp-black mixed with glue, and 
building a picture frame six feet by four, inside 
measurement, of boards one foot wide, shaded into 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 23 

a bevel shape by yellow-brown and drab paint. In 
this frame the smaller pictures will be shown, and 
it will, therefore, be needed on the extemporized 
stage also, on which it is placed at the back centre 
three feet from the back wall, and as high as possi- 
ble to allow the top of it to be seen by persons ni 
the gallery. A plain box or vista of black un- 
glosscd cambric will serve, although a few scenes 
add greatly to the effect ; but when the former 
alone is convenient, all directions will be under- 
stood to refer to it instead of to the scenery men- 
tioned. Both stages require strong light, chiefly 
from the top, and calcium lights add to the beauty 
of the whole, especially in a large hall. The 
curtain for the extemporized stages should be 
made of an opaque material, and be curtained to 
roll or loop up, or to run upon rings. Outside, a 
neat proscenium should be built in the style of a 
picture frame, the upper edge of the lower bar of 
which should be on a level with the stage floor. 
This may be painted with oak stain or covered 
with house paper of oaken color, and when the 
audience is near, by reason of a crowd, or the 
smallness of the hall, a curtain of coarse black 
tarlatan muslin should be tightly stretched by 
means of tacks -driven into the back side of the 
large frame just mentioned. When operatic and 
dramatic performances are given in connection 
with the tableaux and pantomime, it will be best to 
have this muslin tacked on to a light frame of its 
own, made of thin strips of wood just the size of 
the opening of the proscenium, so that it can be 
removed when much action in the front of the 
stage is desired. Several boxes of assorted sizes, 
and two §ets of horses, one set being two and one 
half feet and one five feet high, all of a uniform 



24 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

width of two and one half feet, will be found 
useful when desirable to elevate some portion of 
the various groups. Upon these horses, planks 
thirteen feet long can be placed, and a few shorter 
pieces may be also found useful. The furniture 
should be of an old-fashioned style, and a few 
simple articles of the kind not now in use can be 
made of pine boards, such as settles, hobs, and 
dressers, correct ideas of the form of which can 
be found in the illustrations of some of the older 
editions of Dickens. The very roughest imitations 
will often serve the purpose, and in many cases 
only a portion need be made, especially when the 
rest of the article is concealed by the dress of the 
actors. A blazing fire, which is so often called for 
and so troublesome to prepare, can be often made by 
placing red gelatine behind logs of wood, with a 
kerosene lamp concealed by them, the flickering 
of which is also a very good substitute for the 
glowing of hot coals. Any other requisite for the 
presentation of the scenes will be found under the 
special account of it. This stage, as stated above, 
is under the charge of Mr. Vincent Crummells 
and his wife ; with the help and advice of Mrs. 
Jarley they design and prepare all programmes 
and attend to their performance. ' Very much of 
the success of the whole entertainment depends 
upon their skill and judgment, for their stage is 
usually the means of drawing the crowds which 
patronize the other money-making departments. 
For their aid a collection of suitable scenes from 
Dickens is here given, but it is by no means needful 
to confine the personations to one author, for any- 
thing in the range of the minor drama is of course 
suitable. Plays, operas, charades, and pantomime 
of all sorts can be introduced, as the resources of 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 2$ 

the Theatre Royal embrace them all. In the pro- 
grammes for each evening, these attractions may be 
blended to give variety, and in deciding upon their 
order, great care must be taken that no person 
must appear in two scenes close to each other, 
unless he represents the same person, as delays 
caused by a change of costume will ruin the effect, 
however short they may seem to the actor. In the 
Dickens scenes the illustrations, especially those 
in the older editions, will be found very useful as 
guides to both costume and grouping, as the more 
grotesque they are, the more amusing they will 
appear to the audience. In all entertainments it 
will be well to conclude with Mrs. Leo Hunter's 
garden party, which will be described in full. A 
list of useful scenes is here given, with description 
of each. 

Stiggins and Mrs. W^eller. 

The former is clad in a shabby suit of rusty 
black cloth ; the latter in a dark stuff dress, white 
apron, kerchief, and high cap. They are seated 
side by side, as if in very tender converse ; between 
them is a small table covered with glasses and 
bottles from which Stiggins often concocts bever- 
ages, which he slowly sips with the utmost appar- 
ent delight in the process. Mrs. Weller, who is a 
rotund lady, seems deeply impressed with the con- 
versation of the good man. If desirable, this 
scene can be acted, and the happy couple can 
gradually place their chairs closer and closer to 
each other, and the lady often raises her handker- 
chief to her eyes, as if affected by the good man's 
eloquence. At an open door in the centre of the 
back scene, old Weller himself looks in with sus- 



26 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

picion and indignation. He wears a broad hat 
and top-coat, and his coachman's attire, as if he 
had just dismounted from his box. He holds a 
horsewhip in the air above the head of Stig^ins, 
as if unable to Iceep from giving him a taste of 
the lash, being withheld only from giving the 
blow by consideration of the feelings of the lady. 



Sam Waller and Mary shaking the Cloth. 

This scene may be acted, and if desired any 
little song can be sung by the actors as an accom- 
paniment. The housemaid wears a neat dress of 
chintz, tucked up over a light skirt, a round cap 
with bright ribbons, and a white apron. Sam has 
corduroy breeches, gray stockings, and a striped 
long waistcoat with sleeves. Mary is shaking a 
tablecloth outside of an open door, and Sam enters 
and salutes her politely, offering his assistance, 
and they shake the cloth vigorously, and then 
begin to fold it up, which act brings them closer 
and closer until their heads touch, and Sara 
attempts to steal a kiss, but receives instead of the 
expected embrace a sound blow upon the ear. In 
mock anger Sam then pursues the flying Mary 
until she takes refuge behind the door, where he 
follows her to take full revenge for the uncourteous 
treatment. A practical door can be set up for 
outside scenes, which is furnished with an old- 
fashioned knocker and knob, and the scene in 
which it is set may also have a window to open, 
which will be useful in many places. These doors 
and windows can be so decorated that they will 
serve for exterior scenes on one side and interior 
scenes on the other. 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA 2/ 



Pecksniff and his Daughters. 

This interesting family are seated at a round 
table partaking of the national beverage of tea. 
Mr. Pecksniff is at the right side in the act of 
delivering a moral lecture to his adoring daughters : 
his finger-tips are joined, his head is erect, and his 
whole manner is pompous and affected. He 
wears a black suit with high ruffle, and his hair 
twisted into a knot in front. One of his daugh- 
ters is very tall and thin, with corkscrew ruHs cmd 
an old-fashioned scant gray dress with ruflie cape. 
She holds a teapot as if about to pour out some 
tea, until her attention was taken up by her 
father's wise address. On the other side of Peck- 
sniff sits his other daughter, fair and fat, with ring- 
lets over her shoulders and face. She wears a 
flowered chintz dress made in a juvenile style, and 
has a simpering aspect. While her father's atten- 
tion is diverted, she has taken a lump of sugar 
from the bowl and is about to put it into her 
mouth. The table decorations are very showy and 
as old-fashioned in style as can be found. The 
room is also of a showy kind, such rs is called in 
stage parlance a fancy interior. 

Mr. Mantalini Faints for the last Time. 

The gentleman above mentioned lies upon the 
Hoor with his feet toward the front ; his head rests 
upon the knee of his servant, who kneels in the 
centre. At his left Madame Mantalini sits sur- 
rounded by her maids, who offer restoratives and 
consolation. Miss Knag stands at the right of 
Mr. Mantalini, looking down with great sympathy 



28 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

and interest. On the two sides of the room other 
workwomen stand in attitudes of various sorts, some 
seeming to sympathize with the afflicted wife, and 
some with the too fascinating husband. All liave 
some article of millinery or dress in their hands, 
as if they had been suddenly summoned from their 
work by the screams of the sufferer. They wear 
dark dresses with white kerchiefs and high- 
crowned fluted caps. Mr. Mantalini has a gay 
flowered dressing-gown, smoking-cap, and light 
pdfiitalooiis ; his hair is in close curls, and his mus- 
tache is vaxed at the ends, so that it stands out 
well on each side. A few bonnet blocks and wire 
dress forms add to the effect when placed about 
the room and on tables. 

Mr. Mantalini in a New Character. 

A very plain interior with wash-tubs and other 
implemerits of the laundry. A mangle, made by a 
long table on which is a wooden roller with a 
crank, stands in the centre, the form of which is 
mostly concealed by sheets and any articles of 
white cotton. At this crank Mr. Mantalini stands 
in the act of turning it ; he appears very tired and 
deeply dejected, and regards with great fear the 
face of a large woman who stands at the right of 
centre. She is dressed in a short gown belted 
over a striped skirt, decorated with many colored 
patches. She has her arms bare and her fist 
doubled up, and she stands above the trembling 
Mantalini as if anxious to keep his attention con- 
centrated on his work. His dress is ragged and 
his locks dishevelled, and dejection is shown in 
the droop of his mustache. At the back of the 
room a door is partly open to give a glimpse of Nich- 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 29 

olas Nickleby and Kate, who look with great sur- 
prise and interest on the scene. Nicholas has a 
black frock coat, tall hat, and white pantaloons ; and 
his sister wears a poke bonnet and plain, scant dress. 

The Capture of Bunsby. 

Jack Bunsby, in a very rough sailor suit, leads a 
procession on its triumphant way to his wedding. 
Mrs. McStinger, a lady of large frame and fea- 
tures, holds her captive tightly by the arm, and he 
is also guarded by two great friends of hers, one 
of whom has a very small and weak husband in 
tow. Mrs. McStinger and her friends wear old- 
fashioned bonnets, and wraps of every kind, all of 
gay hues, and Mrs. McStinger's children of grad- 
uated sizes, four girls and four boys, all oddly 
dressed, bring up the rear. They have paused for 
a moment, as they have met Capt. Cuttle, who 
seems petrified with astonishment and fear at the 
fate of his friend. Bunsby seems overcome with 
confusion and dread, and his prospective bride 
wears an air of great triumph. This procession 
may be in motion when preferred. Capt. Cuttle 
enters from the left and meets his friend at the 
centre of the stage, where after a few moments 
the Captain steps aside and the people pass slowly 
out of sight, being watched for some time by Capt. 
Cuttle, who seems planning a rescue. 

Mrs, Pipchin and Paul, 

A very old lady, in a black dress, high cap, and 
kerchief, sits with knitting work in hand, but 
intently regarding a very small boy, who also looks 
fixedly at her. He sits in a small high chair, and 



30 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

she in a high rocking-chair. He is very small, 
pale, and thin, and wears a nice black suit of cloth 
or velvet. 

Susan Nipper and Toots. 

A very brisk and bright-eyed maid in a dainty 
dress cap and apron is laughing with all her might 
at the airs and graces of a showily dressed fop 
who is handing her a letter. He has a cane, the 
head of which he often holds in his mouth. 



Capt. Cuttle and Florence. 

The gallant Captain wears a rough sailor suit 
and glazed hat, and has a block of wood in the end 
of his coat-sleeve, into which an iron hook is fixed. 
Florence, in the walking costume of thirty years 
ago, is clinging to his arm, and looking up into his 
face with great tenderness. His arm bearing the 
hook is extended over her, and he seems to show 
his desire to protect and secure her from all dan- 
ger. This forms a pretty group for the frame as 
well as for the stage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smallweed 

Are two very old people, both unable to sit up, but 
dressed in wrappers ; each is propped up in a high- 
backed chair, just far enough apart for the husband 
to be able to throw a pillow at his wife when she 
offends him by her talk. He holds the pillow as 
if ready for an attack upon his wife, who makes 
up an ugly face at him. The effect of the old 
man's appearance is heightened by a red flannel 
nightcap, which stands up on his head, and is dec- 
orated with a tassel. 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 3 1 



Smike at Rehearsal. 

Nicholas Nicklcby, a tall, well-formed youth, 
stands on the stage of a theatre in a shabby Ham- 
let costume of black cotton velvet. He is trying 
to induce poor Smike, his faithful companion, to 
commit to memory a few lines of the part of the 
Apothecary, for which part he is dressed in a tight 
brown suit with cloak and hose. Smike must be 
very thin, and his cheeks chalked to give them a 
haggard look. The scene is a street with an open 
door in centre. 

Bella Wilfer and her Cherubic Pa 

Form a good picture for the frame or stage. She 
is represented by a very handsome lady dressed in 
a black silk dress, with bare arms and neck. Her 
father, a short man with very curly, light hair, sits 
by her side on a high stool. His hair is very much 
rumpled, and his curls are in wild confusion, for 
his daughter has evidently been running her fair 
fingers through it, in which act she is still engaged, 
to the evident delight of her father, who regards 
her with love and admiration. 

Betty Higden 

Forms a good frame picture which represents an 
aged woman decently clad in dark clothes, with a 
large bonnet and neat apron and handkerchief. 
She sits upon the ground as if exhausted with her 
load, and has a very large basket in her lap. The 
basket is very full, and is covered with a white 
cloth : by her side nestles a pretty child, sound 
asleep, with his head leaning against her This 
child is very poorly but neatly dressed. 



32 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 



Steerforth at his Toilet. 

A very handsome youth, elegantly attired, re- 
clines in an easy-chair in the centre. He has a 
cigar, a newspaper lies near, which he has dropped 
on listening to the gossip of his companion. 

A dwarf is combing the gentleman's hair, to rep- 
resent whom a small boy is dressed in a showy 
ladies' costume, with a large poke bonnet covered 
with bows and flowers, worn on the back of the 
head. She seems very busy, and as if smiling at 
his reception of her jokes and news. 

Barkis and Pegotty; to be acted in pantomime. 

A stout woman with a very tight, dark dress is 
seated by a small table on which is a work-box. 
Her lover soon enters bashfully, and sits for a mo- 
ment on the edge of his chair. She smiles upon 
him, so that he gains courage and goes out for a 
basket of vegetables, from which he hands her a 
large cabbage, a string of onions, a squash, a book, 
and a lantern. He goes out again and returns 
with a large bird-cage, and having arranged them 
in a semicircle in front of her, points placidly, first 
to them and then to himself. 

Mr. and Mrs. Micawber and the Twins. 

Mrs. Micawber sits sadly in the centre, holding a 
twin on each knee, whose cries she tries in vain to 
still. She wears an old wrapper, and a cap from 
which her dishevelled curls fall in wild confusion. 
The twins may be large dolls or very small boys in 
baby clothes. Soon Mr. Micawber enters at the 
right, and she makes a frantic rush at her long-lost 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 33 

husl^and, and throws hrr arms around him as well 
as she is able. He has a we l-wirn dark suit, 
white vest, eye-glasses, and hat worn jauntily on one 
side. 

Aunt Betsy discovers her Nephew. 

A very tall lady of stern aspect, with a high cap 
and apron, is in a garden scene. She holds up her 
hands in horror at a little boy who looks implor- 
ingly into her face. He has no shoes, vest, or coat, 
and seems covered with dust. Mr. Dick, in a dark 
suit of clothes, with an enormously high collar, 
stands in smiling approval in the background. He 
has a great paper kite at his back, and apparently 
often runs his hands through his hair, which stands 
up wildly. 

Uriah Heep and Agnes. 

A lovely lady, dressed in a neat evening dress, 
sits at a table at the left, and listens with disgust 
to the conversation of a tall, thin man with red 
hair and long red hands, which he is supposed 
to continually twist and turn. He wears an aspect 
of mock humility and deceit, and is in strong con- 
trast to his companion. 

Uriah Heep Exposed. 

Aunt Betsy and David stand at the left of the 
stage. Agnes bends over her aged father, who is 
seated at a table covered with papers at the centre. 
In the foreground Mr. Micavvber brandishes a ruler 
over Uriah Heep, who looks upon the group with 
the utmost hatred and anger. Mr. VVickfield, the 
father of Agnes, has white hair and a bowed form; 
he wears a dressing-gown and sits behind the 



34 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

table. The other characters have been already 
described ; all are looking at Micawber and Heep, 
who must assume very expressive attitudes and re- 
gard each other with mutual aversion and scorn. 
The room represents a plain office. 

The Fezziwigs. 

This funny family is best described in the 
"Christmas Carol," and the group may be com- 
posed of as many people as convenient. They all 
wear square-cut suits, and ladies' dresses to corre 
spond, of brocade or cretonne looped over petticoats 
of any plain colors. The hair is powdered, except 
that of Mr. Fezziwig, who wears a brown wig to 
match his brown suit. He stands with his wife at 
the upper end of the room, and seems urging his 
guests to form a dance, which they very soon do, 
and a set of four couple go through an old-fashioned 
minuet with great precision. 

Scrouge attends his Nephew's Party. 

This scene, also from the " Carol," may be made a 
moving one, as the stage is full of figures, all the 
people being dressed in more modern dress than 
in the one above described. Scrouge, in a snuff- 
colored, square-cut suit, looks in at a door at the 
back, while the whole party are busily engaged in 
a game of blind-man's-buff, which they play with 
great spirit, until after a few minutes one gentle- 
man catches a laughing young lady and leads her 
into the centre. 

Tom and Ruth Pinch. 

A very seedy and poorly dressed man, with a fine 
profile and intelligent face, sits at a parlor organ 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 35 

which is placed at the left side of the stage, the top 
being so covered by dark curtains as to give the 
effect of a higher organ. His eyes are on a music 
book which is placed before him, and he seems fully 
engrossed by his art. His sister Ruth, in a plain 
gray dress, with neat kerchief and white apron, 
bends lovingly over him. Her hand is on his 
shoulder, and she seems anxious to cheer and com- 
fort him by every means in her power. - 



John and Dot. 

A large man sits by the fireside smoking his 
pipe in peace and comfort ; at a cushion at his feet 
sits his lovely little wife in a dainty white dress, 
her head rests on his knee, and she seems to be 
listening. He wears a rough but clean suit of dark 
cloth, a round table is set for tea, and a little tea- 
pot stands upon the hob near Dot's hand. ' 



Mr. Pickwick in Trouble. 

An exterior or wood scene. Mr. Pickwick, 
dressed in his well-known costume of black stock- 
ings, small-clothes, and square-cut coat, sits in a 
wheelbarrow in a very inebriated condition ; his hat 
is on the back of his head, and in each hand he 
holds a bottle. Between the shafts stands the Fat 
Boy in the act of wheeling the unfortunate man to 
a place of safety. The boy wears very large pan- 
taloons and a long chintz waistcoat with sleeves, 
the whole suit being stuffed with cotton in order 
to make him appear twice the usual size. His 
large head has fallen forward upon his chest as he 



36 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

has gone to sleep upon the way, but Mr. Pickwick 
is obHvious of the delay, for, overcome with the 
strength of his potations, the worthy man has also 
yielded to the influence of the drowsy god. Ar- 
ranged at the background are the members of the 
club, regarding the scene with surprise and amuse- 
ment, and near them stands Old Wardle, who 
wears a brown, square-cut suit, and is a complete 
representation of the hospitable country squire. 



Tiny Tim. 

The Crachitt family, as described in the " Carol," 
ai^ mostly seated around a long table in the centre, 
as if their Christmas feast was just concluded. 
Everything about the room and table bears the 
marks of contented poverty. They are very shab- 
bily dressed, but have neat kerclhefs and white 
aprons. The family around and near the table 
consists of a mother, three daughters, and two 
sons, of ages from twenty to six years. In the 
foreground stands the father of the family in a 
well-worn suit of threadbare black. He has a 
round, merry face, in spite of his care and trouble. 
Tiny Tim, a thin little boy of about five years, sits 
perched upon the shoulders of his father. In one 
hand he holds a little crutch as if in the act of 
raising it in the air, and seems about to pronounce 
his famous benediction. He must have a very sad 
and thoughtful face, and his curls reach to his 
shoulders. The effect may be heightened by the 
addition of Christmas greens and holly, which 
may hang from the ceiling, or stand in the centre 
of the table in an old pitcher or vase. 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 37 



Dolly Varden and her Lover. 

A very pretty girl, in a very bright ^Iress of the 
well known style named for this character, stands 
in the frame at the right of the young man. Slic 
holds a waiter with cake and a glass of wine, which 
she is about to offer to her companion, who is a 
thin youth in a workman's holiday suit, who looks 
at her in the tenderest manner with his right eye, 
the left being closed. 

Barnaby and his Raven. 

A young man in a dark suit with cape, and a 
high hat trimmed with ribbons of many hues, 
slands in the frame looking intently at a raven or 
crow which is perched on the right hand, which is 
raised high above his head ; his face should have 
a somewhat subdued expression as if his mind was 
not perfectly clear. 

Sidney Carton. 

A very handsome man, in the dress of the time 
of the Reign of Terror, stands by a fair-haired young 
girl, who looks up into his face with trust and rev- 
erence, her right hand rests confidingly in his, and 
both stand calmly waiting for their turn at the 
hands of the executioner. 



Waiting their Doom. 

The idea of this powerful picture is taken from 
"The Tale of Two Cities," as it represents people 
from many ranks in life, from the rich marquis to 



38 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

the poorest beggar, huddled together, each one 
eagerly listening to hear his own name from the 
lips of the jailer, who stands on a rude tabkin the 
background, as if reading from a long list of those 
who are to suffer death that day. At the left a 
mother holds a fainting girl across her lap, while 
two blondes with streaming hair bend above her 
kneeling figure. At the right a party of rough 
men have paused in their game of cards just long 
enough to learn that one of their number will 
never play again. In the centre three red-shirted 
men with drawn swords are dragging away a help- 
less group, consisting of an aged man and his fair 
daughter who clings closely to him. Some lie faint- 
ing on the floor in the foreground, and at the sides 
are mothers parting for the last time with their 
children, and ladies with their lovers and husbands. 
Others seem perfectly calm, and others are reck- 
lessly drinking wine and striving to show indiffer- 
ence in other ways. 

Oliver Twist and Fagin. 

An old Jew, with a red beard, with loose trous- 
ers, and a shabby dressing-gown, stands in the 
centre of the frame. He is supposed to be com- 
pelling Oliver to join him in his nefarious plan of 
robbery. Oliver is neatly dressed, as he has just 
been captured from the care of his kind friends, 
and he looks on the Jew with dread and abhorrence. 

Mrs. Bumble asserts her Supremacy. 

Two aged women, very poorly dressed, are hard 
at work at two wash-tubs in the centre of the stage. 
Mrs. Bumble enters, and they work with increased 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 39 

energy ; she then confronts Mr. Bumble, who 
enters at the left, and looks very sternly at her, as 
if expecting to subdue her by the majesty of his 
gaze. She treats him with silent contempt, and 
motions for him to leave her, but he delays for a 
final manifestation of his power. She seizes a 
broom, and he begins to retreat, and his energetic 
wife pursues him with her uplifted broom, before 
which he makes a hasty exit, covered with confu- 
sion, and with a complete loss of all his manly 
dignity. 

The Dickens Gallery. 

In the la'ter part of the evening, Mr. Crummells 
sends to the various parts of the hall and summons 
as many of the characters as he needs for this 
scene, selecting for each night twelve or more of 
the most noted and best costumed persons. These 
he forms in line at the left of the picture frame, 
behind the scenes, having one person or group in 
the frame, and the others in line, each ready to 
enter as soon as it is vacated by the occupant. 
Miss La Creevy, as described in "Nicholas 
Nickleby," sits on the stage at the right side of 
the frame, earnestly studying the picture which 
she is supposed to have painted. When the 
curtain has fallen upon one picture, the manager 
at once calls in and groups the second picture, and 
so on, until the last, Miss La Creevy growing more 
and more enthusiastic as each fresh picture is 
exhibited. For these pictures, any single por- 
traits of the many persons alluded to in any of 
Dickens's works will answer, as well as groups of 
two or three, taking, of course, such as are asso- 
ciated together in the stories which describe them, 



40 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

and a little practice in groupinj^ will enable the 
manager to prepare them without delay. 

Mrs. Leo Hunter's Garden Party 

Is the last scene of each evening's entertainment, 
although it may be used by itself as a complcie 
performance for any house or hall. In the latter 
case, after the introduction, a fancy-dress ball fills 
up the rest of the evening. This ball is often used 
in regular carnivals, either on the last night, for a 
change, or on every evening in a separate hall. 
As before mentioned, all the dancing is under the 
charge of Mr, Turveydrop, a tall gentleman of 
great refinement and polish of manner, dressed in 
a black suit, with knee-breeches, silk stockings, 
and a ruffled shirt. He acts as floor manager, and 
with his aids attends to every detail of the order 
of dancing, music, and reception and introduction 
of his patrons. He should, if possible, be able to 
teach some very old dances, such as minuets, 
"Haste to the Wedding," ."Sir Roger De Cover- 
ly," etc., for which a company of twelve or more 
couples are needed, dressed in old-fashioned cos- 
tumes. These dances are introduced as many 
times as the taste of the manager may consider 
best during the evening, and have their place also 
in Mrs. Hunter's party, as follows in this complete 
description. When the regular stage performance 
is over for the evening, and the time for closing 
the other departments has arrived, all the characters 
leave their stations in the hall and anterooms and 
assemble behind the scenes at the left of the stage, 
on which a garden scene is set. Here Mrs Leo 
Hunter is discovered at the rise of the curtain 
seated on a rustic throne at the rear. Mr. Hunter, 



GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 4I 

a sober gentleman in a black suit, enters and 
stands at her right, and announces in a loud voice 
the name and rank of each person as he enters, 
and pays his respects to Mrs. Hunter, who receives 
the guests with much ceremony, of course paying 
much more deference to the more noted of her 
company than to those in humbler stations. Mr. 
Pickwick arrives first, followed by the members of 
his club, and as far as possible by the other per- 
sons mentioned in his book. The others then all 
enter, being divided into groups from the books in 
which they figure, as far as can conveniently be 
done ; but if the crowd is very great, this order 
need not be closely followed, if it is likely to cause 
delay, as it is very important that no crowding or 
waits occur to mar the promptness of the arrivals. 
As the crowd gathers on the stage, the people who 
have been introduced move around and toward 
the front, in order to leave room at the back for 
Mrs. Hunter to receive her friends in such a way 
that the ceremony of their reception is plainly vis- 
ible to the spectators. When all have been intro- 
duced, they take their places on each side of the 
stage and listen with extravagant delight to the 
" Ode of the Expiring Frog," which Mrs. Leo 
Hunter recites in the most theatrical manner pos- 
sible, and at the conclusion of the verses, which 
can be found in the "Pickwick Papers," all unite 
in applause, and some of the more susceptible 
ladies bury their faces in their handkerchiefs, as if 
overcome by their emotions. They then walk 
about and seem to enjoy a social talk, and then 
Mr. Turveydrop advances and with many bows 
introduces his celebrated dances. If the stage is 
not large enough, these dances can be danced in 
front of the stage or on the floor of the hall in 



42 GRAND DICKENS COSMORAMA. 

some other part; then if a ball is desired, general 
dancing for all who wish to pay for it concludes 
the evening entertainment; but when no ball is 
intended, after a few dances by Mr. Turvey- 
drop's class, during which all of the guests talk 
and act in accordance with their various parts, 
at a signal from Mr. Pickwick each person faces 
toward the front of the stage, and all bow together 
as the curtain falls. 



NOVELTIES IN ENTERTAINMENTS 

SITITAI'.I.K FOU 

Perforaiarice oii the Centre ^tage 



OK TIIM 



DICKENS COSMORAMA, 

AND OTHER OCCASIONS. 



Published by LEE AND SHEPARD BOSTON. 



DIALOGUES FROM DICKENS. 

FOR SCHOOL AND HOME AMUSEMENT. 

Selected and arranged by "W. ELIOT FETTE. 

FIRST SERIES. 

16mo. Cloth. Illustrated. $1.50. 

In this volume the scenes from Dickens are entirely inde- 
pendent of each other, so that they can be used for Dialogues 
in the school-room, and with little trouble they can be 
grouped into Dramas for evening entertainments. Mr. Fette 
has selected the best scenes, the best characters, and the best 
points of the great master of English fiction. 

DRAMAS FROM DICKENS. 

FOR SCHOOL AND HOME AMUSEMENT. 

Selected and arranged by W. ELIOT FETTE. 

SECOND SERIES. 
Cloth. Illustrated. $1.50. 

Comprising among others arranged as Dramas, 
THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH. 

THE BATTLE OF LIFE. SCENES IN THE FLEET. 

THE MICAWBERS' GUEST. THE PROPOSAL, Etc. 

In every scene careful directions are given as to entrances, 
exits, and positions on the stage, and much of what is called 
stage business is indicated. 

(1) 



DICKENS'S READINGS. 

(Selected by Himself.) 

Expressly prepared for the use of Schools, Reading Clubs, 
and Public Readers, and for Classes in Translation. Each 
reading in neat paper covers, 15 cts. 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL. In four staves,* as read in America. 
BARDELL AND PICKWICK. Containing the remarkable 

Speech of Sergeant Bnzfuz, the Testament of Sara Weller, 

and the Perplexities of the Little Judge. 
DAVID COPPERFIELD. Condensed by the author to em- 
brace the story of Little Emily, the villany of Uriah Heep, 

and the eccentricities of Micawber. 
MR. BOB SAWYER'S PARTY. One of the best creations of 

the great master of fiction. 
LITTLE DOMBE Y. From the well-known novel of " Dombey 

and Son," introducing some of the best characters. 
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. {Long Beadinrj. In the Yorkshire 

school.) Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Squeers, Nicholas, 

Newman Noggs, and Smike, with the stirring scenes in 

the school-room. 
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. {Short Beading.) Introducing 

many favorite characters and scenes in this great novel. 
BOOTS AT THE HOLLY TREE INN. This humorous 

sketch was always a great favorite with Mr. Dickens's 

audiences. 
DR. MARIGOLD. This is a story complete in itself, and one 

of the most entertaining of the shorter sketches. 
MRS. GAMP, This sketch introduces Sairy Gamp, Mrs. 

Prig, and the invisible friend of the former, "Mrs. 

Harris." 
DICKENS'S READINGS. Complete in 1 vol. ]6mo. Cloth. 

Containing the above. Handsomely illustrated. Price, 

$L50. 
The " Readings of Charles Dickens," as condensed by him- 
self from his published stories, is as good a form of Dickens's 
novels in little, as tliey are likely to appear in. Tlie best in- 
cidents and most perfect characterizations are here presented. 
The volume will 1)e particularly agreeable to those who heard 
the readings, and is useful for those who dare to think they 
can read acceptably themselves. — Boston Advertiser. 

(2) 



BALLADS IN BLACK. 

A Series of Oriiciiial KeaiUni^s, to bo produced as Shadow 
Pantomimes. Willi full directions for Keprcseiitation, by 
F. E. Chase. Illustrated with fifty fuU-pajre Silhouettes, by 
J. F. GooDUicii, containing the following rantominies: 
Drink, Driggs and his Double, Orpheus the Organ-Grinder, 
Anonymous, Cinderella, In Pawn. Trice in Boards, illus- 
trated cover, $1.00. 

In answer to demand for the above rantomimesin a simpler 
and cheaper form, wc have published each Ballad separately, 
with illustrations and directions complete, at twenty-Jive cents 
each. 

DRINK. 

A Temperance Shadow Pantomime, with eight illustrations, 

ORPHEUS THE ORGAN-GRINDER. 

A Musical Shadow Pantomime, with six illustrations. 

ANONYMOUS. 

A Nameless Narrative, with six illustrations. 

DRIGGS AND HIS DOUBLE. 

A Pantomime Paradox, with eight illustrations. 

CINDERELLA. 

A new version of an old story told in shadow pantomime. 
Eight illustrations in silhouette. 

These pantomimes are particularly adapted to " fill in" an 
entertainment, as they require little preparation, and no ex- 
pensive scenery or costumes. 

A. WARD'S WAX FIGGER SHOW. 

"A serious of icax statoots ecallcd bijfeio, and exceld by none." 

AiTanged as an entertainment similar to the well-known 
Jarley's Wax Works ; with a descriptive lecture in the lan- 
guage of the renowned humorist. Price, 25 cents. 

(3) 



AN ORIGINAL OPERETTA. 

For two male and two female cbaracters, entitled 

MASTASIA; Or, THE PEER AND THE PRETTY ONE. 

By HENRY N. BAKER. Price, 25 cents. 



mTRIVALLED SUCCESS OF 

THE GREAT UMBRELLA CASE. 

A. MIOCK TRIAL. 

By F. E. Chase. Fifth edition just ready. Price, 15 cents. 
Send for it. 



FOOTLIGHT FROLICS. 

Entertainment for home and school. By Mrs. Charles F. 
Fernald. Comprising thirteen entertainments, as follows : — 

THE HONEYMOON. ANTIDOTE, Charade Play. 

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, in Khyme. 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL FUN. SCHOOL OPERA. 

BLUE RIBBONS, a Temperance Sketch. 

CHRISTMAS CAPERS. A TEMPERANCE FROLIC. 

LOVE SICK, Charade. BANDITTI, Charade. 

COLD WATER, Temperance Play. 

LEARNING LESSONS. ANVIL CHORUS. 

The whole neatly bound in boards at 50 cents, in paper 
covers at 30 cents. 

(4) 



" LOTS OIT' ir-XTN" ! " 

PARLOR VARIETIES, 

Plays, Pantomimes, aiul Cliarudes. By Emma E. Brewster. 
lOiuo. Bouud, 50 cents; paper, 30 cents. 

LIST OF VARIETIES. 

NUMBKIt ClIARACTKRS. 

Male. Female. 

My Sister's Husrand .... Play, Two Acts, 3 3 

TiiK CiiiasTMAS Box . . . . " " " 4 4 

Tiin FuKE Wakd " One Act, 5 2 

Jane's Legacy " " " 2 4 

Aunt Mehetible's Scientific 

Experiment " << <« g 

A Pretty Piece of Property . " Three Acts, 3 4 

Poor Peter " One Act, 5 2 

The Don's Stratagem ... " Three Acts, 4 3 

IIow the Colonel Proposed . " << " 2 4 
Elizabeth Carisbrooke with 

a "P" " " " 2 4 

Eliza's Bona-Fide Offer . . " One Act, 4 

Zerubbabel's Second Wife . " ""22 

A Dog that will Fetch will 

Carry " " " g 

Charade — Holidays, Masque for Children. 
Cent- ANY- all — Centennial. 

Three Acts. 

Pantomime — Arabella and Lionel. One Act, 2 2 

A Bunch of Buttercups " " 1 5 

Anj' piece on the list bought separately, pi'ice 15 cents each. 

A BAKER'S DOZEN. Original Humorous Dialogues. By 
Geo. M. Bakkr. Can be used cH'ectively as afterpieces. 
16mo. Clotii, 75 cents; half bound, CO cents. 

POETICAL DRAMAS. For Home and School. By Mary 
S.Cobb. Containing short Poetical and Sacred Dramas, 
suitable for Sunday-School Entertainments, etc., etc. 
16mo. Boards, 60 cents ; cloth, 75 cents. • 
(5) 



" Three Uatuly Jiooks for the Home Circle." 

SOCIAL CHARADES AND PARLOR OPERAS. 

By M. T Calder. Contaiuing the following Charades, 
etc , the first five of which are published separately at 15 
cents each, the others published only iu this volume. 

1. COLLEGE NED, Opera. 5. PILGRIM'S CHOICE. Allegory. 

2. DIAMONDS AND TOADS. Opera. 6. CURIOSITY. Charade. 

3. ACCELERATE. Charade. 7. PARSIMONY. Charade. 

4. CONJURATION. Operatic Charade. 8. CINDERELLA. Charade. 

9. ELOCUTION. Charade. 

With illuminated cover. Boards, 50 cents ; paper, 30 cents. 



HOME GAMES FOR OLD AND YOUNG. 

By Mrs. Caroline L. Smith. 

Comprising Games for the Home Circle or for Church Fes- 
tivals. Fully Illustrated iu Illuminated Covers. Boards, 50 
cents; paper, 30 cents. 



HOME ARTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG. 

By Mrs. Caroline L. Smith. 

This handy little book contains full instructions for getting 
up a Christmas Tree and other " surprises" for the holidays, 
a chapter on Ventriloquism, one on Magic, ar.d other useful 
information in regard to Entertainments for Home or School. 
In Illumhiated Covers, fully illustrated. Boards, 50 cents; 
paper, 30 cents. 

Sold hy all Booksellers and Neiosdealers, and sent hij mail, post- 
paid, on receipt of pmce. 

LEE AND SHEPAED, Publisheks, Boston. 

(6) 



THE GLOBE DRAMA. 



Price, 25 Cents each. 



1. COUPON BONDS. A Drama In Four Acts. By J. 1. Trowbridge. 

Dramatisi'd from tbe story of that name. Suvcn male, ihvue temule 
.iiaracturs. Three scenes. MoiUrn costumes. Kasily procluced. 

2. UNDER A VEIIj. A Comedietta in One Act. Hy Sir Handai.i, Hobekts, 

Bart. Two male, three female cliaracters. Scene, Interior. Double room. 
Time in representation, thirty minutes. 

3. CLASS DAY. A Farce in One Act. By Dr. Francis A. Harris. Four 

male, three female characters. Scene, iuterior. Played at Harvard wiih 
jjreat success. 

4. BETTER THAN GOLD. A Drama in Four Acts. By George M. 

Bakeu. Five male, lour female characters. One interior; same for the 
four acts. 

5. MRS. WALTHROP'S BACHEL,OBS. A Comedy in Three Acts. 

Translated ami adapted from the German of Benedix. By George M. 
Baker and Willauu Small. (" Our Bachelors" and "Mrs. Wallhrop's 
Boarders " were translated from the same.; 

6. OUR MUTUAL FRIEND. A Comedy in Four Acts. Dramatised from 

the novel by Charles Dickens. By Harriet K. Shattdck. Four male, 
three female characters. 

7. REBECCA'S TRIUMPH. A Drama in Three Acts. By George M. 

Baker. (For female characters only.) Sixteen characters. Scenes are ; 
Actl, kitchen. Act 2, woods. Act 3, parlor. Written at the request of 
the " D.O.C. Cooking Club," of Chicago, who took "Among the Breakers " 
as a model. 

8. APPLES. Comedy in One Act from Blackwood's Magaz'ne. One male, two 

female characters. 

9. BABIE. Comedy in Three Acts. Translated from the French of Emile de 

Xajac and Alfred Uennquin, y F. E. Chase. Si.x male, live female 
characters. 

10. A PERSONAL MATTER. Comedy in One Act. By F. E. Chase. Two 

male, and two female characteis. 

11. COMRADES. A Drama in Three Acts. By George M.Baker. Four 

male, three female characters. Scene, iuterior. Costume* t-iodein. 
Always succestsful. 

12. SNOW-BOUND. A Musical and Dramatic Entertainment. iJy Georgk M. 

Baker. For three male and one female characters; requires some scenery, 
but cm be easily produced. Introduces i^ongs, recitations, and an origiiial 
Burlesque, "Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene." Time, two hours. 
1.3. BON-BONS. A Musical and Dramatic Entertainment. By George M. 
Baker. For four performers: three male, one female. Requires litile 
scenery; introduces songs, recitations, and an original Burlesque, "The 
Faint King." Time in representation, two hours. 

14. PAST REDEMPTION. A New Temperance Drama in Four Acts. By 

George M. Baker. Nine male, and four female characters, and super- 
immeraries. Scenery : three interiois, oue exterior. 

15. NEVADA ; or. The Lest Mine. Drama, in Three Acts. By George M. 

Baker. Eicht male, three female characters. Scenery, exterior and in- 
terior of a Miner's Cabin in Nevada. Time, about two hours. 

16, POISON. A Farce, as acted by the Hasty Budding Club of Harvard College 

with great success. Four male, three female characters. Time, thirty 
minutes. 

17, THE COOL COLLEGIANS. Comedy in Two Acts, by Miles Medic; 

three male and four female characters. 

GEORGE M, BAKER, 47 Franklin Street. 



BY GEORGE M. BAKER, 

Author of " Amateur Dramas" " The Mimic Stage" "The Social Stage," " The Drawing- 
Jioom Stage," '' Handy Dramas" "■ The Exhibition Dratna," "A Baktr's Dozen," etc. 
Titles in this Type are New Plays. 
Titles in this Type are Temperance Plays. 



DEAMAS. 

/« Four Acts. 

Better Than Gold. 7 male, 4 I'emalc 
char. 

In Three Acts. 

Our Folks. 6 male, 5 female char. . . 
Tlie Flower o£ the Family. 5 

male, 3 female char 

Enlisted for the War. 7 male, 3 fe- 
male characters. ........... 

My Brother's Keeper. 5 male, 3 fe- 
male char 

The Little Jirown Jug, $ male, 3 

female char 

Dt Two Acts. 

Above the Clouds. 7 male, 3 female 
characters 

One Hundred Tears Ago. 7 male, 
4 female char 

Among thk Breakers. 6 male, 4 female 
char 

bREAD ON THE Waters. s male, 3 female 
char. 

Down bv thk Sea. 6 niale, 3 female 
char. 

Once on a Time. 4 male, 2 female char. 

The Last Loaf. 5 male, 3 female char. 
In One Act. 

Stand bv the Fi-ag. s male char. . . 

The Tempter. 3 male, i female char. 

COMEDIES AND FARCES. 

A Mysterious Disappearance. /, 

male, 3 female char 

Paddle Tour Own Canoe. 7 male, 

3 female char 

A Drop too Much. 4 male, 2 female 
characters 

A. Little More Cider. 5 male, 3 fe- 
male char 

A Thorn Among the Roses. 2 male, 6 
female char 

Never Say Die. 3 male, 3 female char. 

Seeing the Elephant. 6 male, 3 female 
char 

The Boston Dip. 4 male, 3 female char. 

The Duchess of Dublin. 6 male, 4 fe- 
male char 

Thirty Minutes for Refreshhents. 

4 male, 3 female char 

JFeVe all Teetotalers, 4 male, 2 fe- 
male char 

^ Male Characters Only. 

A Close Shave. 6 char 

A I'uBLic Benefactor. 6 char. .... 
A ;'»KA OF T«<»V3LES. 8 chair. ..... 

Geo. M. Baksr & Co 



COMEDIES, inc., continued. 

Male Characters 0?tly, 

A Tender Attachment. 7 char. ... 15 

Coals of Fire. 'S char. „ 15 

FuEEDOM OF THE Press. 8 char. ... IS 

Shall Our Mothf^rs Vote ? ii char. 15 

Gentlemen of the Jury 12 char. ~ . 15 

Humors of the Strike. 8 char. . . 15 

My Uncle the Captain. 6 char. . . 15 

New Brooms Sweep Clean. 6 char. . 15 

The Great Elixir. 9 char 15 

The Hypochondriac, s char 15 

The Man with the Demijohn, 4 

char. . . 15 

The Runaways. 4 char. ..... 15 

The Thief of Time. 6 char. . . . 15 

Wanted, a Male Cook. 4 char. . . 1 15 

Female Characters I ^nly, 

A Love of a Bonnet. 5 char. . .^5 

A Precious Pickle. 6 char 15 

No Cure no Pay. 7 char. 15 

The Champion of Her Sex. 8 char. . 15 

The Greatest Plague in Life. Scha. 15 

The Gkecian Bend. 7 char. .... 15 

The Red Chignon. 6 char. .... 15 

Using the Weed. 7 char. 15 

ALLEQOHIES. 

Arranged for Music and TalUaux. 

Lightheakt's Pilgrimage. 8 female 
char 15 ' 

The Revolt of the Bees, g female 

char 15 ! 

The Sculptor's Triumph, i male, 4 fe- 
male char xj 

The Tourn.\ment of Idylcourt. 

female char ij 

Thf 'Var of the Roses. 8 female char. 

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC. 

An Original Idea, i male, i female 
char, ;,•■*■ 1 ■ *5 

Bonbons ; or, the Paint King. 6 male, 
I female char. r ' ' *^ 

Capuletta ; or, Romeo and Juliet 
Restored. 3 male, i female char. . 15 

Santa Claus' Frolics. ...... 

Snow-bound; or, Alonzo the Brave 
and the Fair Imogene. 3' male, i 
female char A ' '' 

The Merry Christmas of the Old 
Woman who lived in a Shoe. . . xgi 

The Pedler of Very Nice. 7 male 
char • • •. • 'S 

The Seven Ages, h Tableau Entertain- 
ment. Numei ous .uale and female char, i j . 

Too Late for THE Train. 2 male char. 15 

The Visions of Freedom, ii female 
dur. 



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